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I’m sitting there watching my son see the movie “The little engine that could”. I’m touched all over again as if I were a small child who’s hearing those words for the first time, ” I think I can, I think I can.” One of the head trains says to the baby train “if you think you can you will, if you think you can’t you won’t. Either way you’re right.” Those easy going words made perfect sense to me as an adult who doesn’t want to be told what he can or cannot do. I just wanted to know I’m right either way, just like a child would want to know the same. That effective way of communicating is just what I need with my child, a rebellious 3 year old who always needs to be rubbed the right way. I suppose love, affirmation and some firmness goes a long way and finding that balance of which attributes each unique kid needs the most. His favorite movie taught me that lesson once again, don’t ever give up, teach your child in such a creative way that they have no choice but to want to listen to you. It’s not easy but its better then getting frustrated or yelling aimlessly which doesn’t get you anywhere trust me I’ve tried😃 Connecting with them in their language seems to work.

I’m standing there on my phone typing away an extensive rather important email to my sister. My family is sitting there at the dinner table saying, “hurry up your food will get cold”. After the third request I’m frustrated, still lost in my own digital world not realizing they were waiting and that dinner was getting cold. I say, “I don’t need to eat Dad..this is much more important.” I finally finished the email and came to the table. My Dad was a bit irked but didn’t say anything, it was just another night at the dinner table. My family was so patient, understanding and considerate but I on the other hand didn’t even think to say, “I’m sorry, I was writing an important mail to Didi (my sister).” It’s so ironic how easy it is to become absent minded and unintentionally inconsiderate when your preoccupied.

The next morning my Dad says, “Your sister told me about the nice email you sent her, why didn’t you communicate that to me at the dinner table?” I had no valid answer other than the realization that I’m posting in this very blog. Maybe writing this out will make me remember next time, just like I used to write out sentences on the black board at lunch time when I was in school. The only difference is this time no ones making me do it!

“That was a great movie”, my sister says. We are driving out of the parking lot and she see’s a champagne desert bar and playfully asks “you want to go?” I jokingly say, “no thanks, but I’ll go for some blue label.” As we take a turn, my head veers to the right and I see a big blue label outside the “Container Store” in Pasadena with the words “work smart” in it. I’m in awe, even though I was joking it became a sign for me to “work smart” in life and to not spend my precious moments of life being unaware even in the slightest bit of intoxication. It made me further realize I want to be aware and present in each moment, doing that takes practice but can pay off when you look back 50 years from now knowing you savored each moment and didn’t let your life just fly by . So I say, work smart then work hard too!

It’s funny how the mind can work if you look at the world through a positive lens, then you’ll read the right page which can take you and keep you on a happy, healthy path if you finish the book with that same lens.

A birthday is a memorable occasion to celebrate, especially with the people that have made your life special and meaningful. Yes, that includes yourself! On my birthday yesterday my family sang “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you” along with them a different version started blurting out of my mouth. I sang along saying, “Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us”. I guess this just came straight from the heart because I was elated with the fact we were all together celebrating this day. I later realized the hidden meaning behind my words. The birth of who I am today has come from my family who has endowed me with love, guidance and support. Through thick and thin they’ve loved me unconditionally, and it is because of us that life is such a blessing. Thank you to God for putting these people in my life, with them I can accomplish any task. So, a birthday doesn’t have to be just yours it can also be shared with the people who love you.